The New Hampshire attorney general said Wednesday that dealers who sell drugs that lead to a deadly overdose should face second-degree murder charges.

The New Hampshire attorney general said Wednesday that dealers who sell drugs that lead to a deadly overdose should face second-degree murder charges.

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Updated: 6:02 PM EST Dec 9, 2015

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WEBVTT CONCERTED EFFORT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. REPORTER: ATTORNEY FOSTER SAYS HE'S MET WITH COUNTY ATTORNEYS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE, THE D.E.A., ALL TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. HE SAYS DEADLY OVERDOSES NEED TO BE TREATED LIKE A CRIME SCENE. DRUG OVERDOSES CONTINUE TO SKYROCKET THE NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THERE ARE PREDICTIONS THAT THE NUMBER MAY SURPASS 400 BY THE END OF THE YEAR. >> OUR THOUGHT IS WHAT YOU'RE SELLING IS DEADLY, YOU AS A DEALER HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE CHARGED WITH RECKLESS SECOND DEGREE MURDER OR WHAT THEY CALL A DEATH RESULTING CASE. REPORTER: FOSTER SAYS THERE ARE FIVE CASES UNDER REVIEW THAT MAY FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY AND RECENTLY THERE WAS ONE IN LITTLE TO BE. IN OCTOBER MICHAEL MILLET PLEADED GUILTY ON A COUNT OF SELLING FEN THAT FILL THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A 28-YEAR-OLD. HE WILL SPEND AT LEAST SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON. >> OVERDOSES ARE REALLY CRIME SCENES. SO WITH THINGS LIKE CELL PHONES, SOCIAL MEDIA, I THINK THERE'S ENHANCED WAYS TO TRACK DOWN WHETHER THIS PERSON, WHERE THEY GOT THE DRUGS, HOW THEY SOLD IT DID, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SELLING AND HOW DEADLY IT WAS. REPORTER: THIS WEEK FOSTER TALKED ABOUT THE APPROACH TO A LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE DEALING WITH BILLS FOCUSED ON TACKLING THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC. HE WANTS LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE A NEW DRUG PROSECUTOR TO HAPPY CARRY THE INCREASING CASE LOAD. >> I THINK THE CHARGING A DRUG DEALER WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER MAY WELL HAVE MERIT. REPORTER: SENATOR BRADLEY WHO CHAIRS THE TASK FORCE SAYS LEGISLATORS WILL LIKELY FUND THE POSITION. JUST ONE APPROACH. THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT EVERYTHING FROM INCREASED PENALTIES FOR SELL FENTANYL TO DRUG COURTS AND MORE MONEY FOR UNDERCOVER POLICE OPERATIONS. >> I THINK WE ARE MAKING SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HERE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A PACKAGE THAT THE FULL LEGISLATURE AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING IN EARLY JANUARY WILL BE ABLE TO PASS. REPORTER: SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS WILL WRAP UP TOMORROW AND THE FULL TASK FORCE WILL MEET NEXT

AG says more drug dealers should be charged for OD deaths

The New Hampshire attorney general said Wednesday that dealers who sell drugs that lead to a deadly overdose should face second-degree murder charges.